The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-22

He Cot 1t by the Skin of His Teeth, and Now
Williams Delights TO Honor Him.

Williams Delights Honor Him.
st. Paul Globe.
"Vice- president ingalls, had narrow escape
about getting diploma from bis alma mater "
remarked ST. Paul gentlemen who WAS for
mer classmate at Williams College. where he
year ahead of the late President Gar
field, land the circumstances which led to it may
prove of interest. Near Williams College, in
the town of Pittsfeld. Mass, there was young
lady's seminary known as Mapewood Institute
and one of the practices of the good preceptress
at the head was to give her charges airing
among the Berkshire Hills in a large omnibus.
BY a com bination of circumstances, one day a
bus load of attractive femninity pulled into the
staid old college grounds. and fate led them past
West College, in one of the rooms of which was
located sophomore John j. ingalls,. He had
provided himself with large tin horn, and as
the fair school girls passed his quarters he gaye
them an outburst of melody with his horn that
stirred the whole college. Nothing was said at
the time, but few days later, when the class of
which Mr. ingalls, was member assembled for
the customary rhetorical exercises, President
Mark Hopkins entered and took chair the
rostruu. Tapping the thumb of his left hand
with his eyeglasses-a favorite habit, by the
way, when he wanted to scod delinquent-he
called attention to student lngGlls's breach of
decorum, and accused him of not being averse to
blowing his own horn upon every occasion.
Under this castication from the venerable
President, ingalls, remained silent but he
terribly enraged, and everybody in school knew
that ne would only bde his time get even.
And it came on graduation day. According to
usage he had prepared essay. which ne
titled Mummy Life at College, and this was
submitted to one of the Professors for revision
Naturally. it had to be toned. and when the
manuscript returned to Mr.. ingalls, the
most telling points, according to his idea,
eliminated. Finally he was called upon to de-
liver his ESSAY before the assembled multitude
commencement day, and to the horror of
President and faculty he announced as his sub
ject, College Mummies.' In keen sarcastic
manner for which he has since become foremost
in the United States, he paid his respects to his
tutors. and persisted in finishing his remarks,
although repeatedly told to stop.
''Then he sat down and awaited deveopements
After a short pause diploma was handed him.
but to his amazement and chagrin it a mere
blank so far any testimonial of merit was con-
cerned But ingalls, again outwitted the faculty,
for previous to delivering his speech he had
visited the college treasurer, paid his bill, and
obtained receipt which included certificate of
graduation Bachelor of Arts To this he
called the attention of the faculty, adding that if
they PERSISTED in refusing him what was his by
rights he would at once institute suit against
the college. A few days later he was made
happy by receiving properly signed and au-
tnenticated document showing him to be gradu-
ate of Williams in good standing. This took
place in 1855 and twenty five years later he had
greater revenge when his alma matter not
only chose him TO deliver the annual Grafton,
but at his close conferred upon him without
solicitation the degree of Doctor of Laws"